[MDOsprey] saw-whet owl info

Andy Rabin (andyrab@wam.umd.edu)
Wed, 20 Oct 1999 23:58:25 -0400 

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  Folks,

    I just read this on one of the RBA's for Pennsylvania and thought =
I'd pass it along. =20

Andy Rabin
Gaithersburg, MD
andyrab@wam.umd.edu


-------------------------------
NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS continue to be captured at a banding station on =
Berry
Mountain.  This station, along with ones on South Mountain in Cumberland
County and Second Mountain in Schuylkill County have captured 140 =
NORTHERN
SAW-WHET OWLS so far this fall (SW).  This compares to just 3 captured =
over
the same period of time in 1998.  It is also nearly one and a half times =
the
entire seasonal total for 1998.  Unfortunately, the banding station are =
on
private property, though, and are not open to visitors except by =
invitation.

Still, this may be a good fall for folks to find them on their own.  =
Scott
Weidensaul provides the following instructions:

If you're interested in trying to find a saw-whet on your own, try a =
calm,
dark night after the passage of a cold front, when the strong winds =
finally
die down -- at least, those are the nights they respond best to our
audiolure. We've had good success on or along ridges, in thick forest. =
You
can use a tape, or just whistle an imitation of their "toot" call (I =
only
recommend using a tape during this, the nonbreeding season). I'd sit
patiently in the dark for at least half an hour, waiting and listening =
--
but don't expect to hear an answering toot, the way other owls reply.
Saw-whets are quiet and secretive, which is why I think they're usually
overlooked.  Listen for sounds like a growling, mewing cat, musical =
trills,
bill-snapping or a very soft, faint toot. Then use your flashlight. If =
it's
a heavy flight night, don't be surprised if your calling attracts a =
number
of owls. As to volume, we play our tapes quite loud -- research at other
stations shows that the louder the tape, the more owls they catch, =
perhaps
because it draws them from a wider area. If anyone has particularly good
luck finding saw-whets, please let me know where and when.

  Scott Weidensaul
  sweidnsl@pottsville.infi.net
  Schuylkill Haven, Pa.

--------------------------



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  Folks,
 
    I just read this on one of the RBA's for = Pennsylvania=20 and thought I'd pass it along. 
 
Andy Rabin
Gaithersburg, MD
andyrab@wam.umd.edu
 
 
-------------------------------
NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS continue to be captured at a banding station = on=20 Berry
Mountain.  This station, along with ones on South Mountain = in=20 Cumberland
County and Second Mountain in Schuylkill County have = captured 140=20 NORTHERN
SAW-WHET OWLS so far this fall (SW).  This compares to = just 3=20 captured over
the same period of time in 1998.  It is also = nearly one=20 and a half times the
entire seasonal total for 1998.  = Unfortunately, the=20 banding station are on
private property, though, and are not open to = visitors=20 except by invitation.

Still, this may be a good fall for folks to = find=20 them on their own.  Scott
Weidensaul provides the following=20 instructions:

If you're interested in trying to find a saw-whet = on your=20 own, try a calm,
dark night after the passage of a cold front, when = the=20 strong winds finally
die down -- at least, those are the nights they = respond=20 best to our
audiolure. We've had good success on or along ridges, in = thick=20 forest. You
can use a tape, or just whistle an imitation of their = "toot" call=20 (I only
recommend using a tape during this, the nonbreeding season). = I'd=20 sit
patiently in the dark for at least half an hour, waiting and = listening=20 --
but don't expect to hear an answering toot, the way other owls=20 reply.
Saw-whets are quiet and secretive, which is why I think = they're=20 usually
overlooked.  Listen for sounds like a growling, mewing = cat,=20 musical trills,
bill-snapping or a very soft, faint toot. Then use = your=20 flashlight. If it's
a heavy flight night, don't be surprised if your = calling=20 attracts a number
of owls. As to volume, we play our tapes quite loud = --=20 research at other
stations shows that the louder the tape, the more = owls they=20 catch, perhaps
because it draws them from a wider area. If anyone has = particularly good
luck finding saw-whets, please let me know where = and=20 when.

  Scott Weidensaul
  sweidnsl@pottsville.infi.net=
 =20 Schuylkill Haven, Pa.
--------------------------

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